BOOSTING GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT THROUGH IMPROVING ICT INFRASTRUCTURES AND BROADBAND

A GOING LOCAL EVENT IN COOPERATION WITH THE SICILIAN REGION

30 OCTOBER 2014 • 10.30 a.m. > 5 p.m. • Palermo

Albergo delle Povere, Corso Calatafimi 213, Palermo

Programme

Interpretation provided
from English, French and Italian

into English, French and Italian

10.30 – 11 Registration and welcome coffee

11 – 11.30 Opening remarks

Rosario Crocetta, President of the Sicilian Region

Stephane Buffetaut, President of the TEN Section, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

Enrico Forti, Head of Unit at European Commission, Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology

11.30 – 1 Session 1: The role of broadband penetration as a tool to foster economic growth and employment

This session will focus on the main drivers and public policy options for broadband development, aimed at reducing existing disparities within the population and regions and creating new market opportunities.

Debate with:

Isabel Cano Aguilar, EESC member

Patrizia Valenti, Regional Councillor responsible for the Civil Service

Salvatore Lombardo, Director General at Infratel Italia

Filippo Munisteri, policy officer, European Commission

Vittorio Vallero, SABER project coordinator

Clive Peckham, European Project Officer at Nièvre Numérique, France

Moderator: Antonio Longo, EESC member

1 – 2.30 Networking lunch

2.30 – 4.30 Session 2: E-government services as an important means for governments to interact with citizens.

The public sector intensively uses broadband Internet for its most common activities, such as tax information and payment, e-health and public transportation. This session will explore the importance of and the opportunities stemming from e-government in the improvement of public services for citizens. In parallel it will highlight the core necessity of education and life-long-learning programmes to enable citizens to make the best use of ICT in today’s rapidly developing digital society.

Debate with:

Federspiel Benedicte, EESC member

Lucia Borsellino, Regional Councillor responsible for Health Protection

Antonio Ingroia, managing director at Sicilia e-Servizi S.p.A., Sicily

Anna Nietyksza, EESC member

Maurizio Bernava, secretary-general at CISL Sicilia (TBC)

Marco Alfano, co-coordinator of the Committee of citizens for the collective good, Palermo

Giuseppe Di Guardo, head of Unit at municipality of Siracusa, Italy

Moderator: Nino Amadore, journalist

4.30 - 5 Closing remarks

Laure Batut, EESC member and President of the Permanent Study Group on the Digital Agend

Interpretation provided
from English, French and Italian

into English, French and Italian

Interpretation provided
from English, French and Italian

into English, French and Italian